New survey

[Pooh93]

I'm pretty easy and realize that should I get to go on my December cruise there will be adaptations.

The one thing I can't figure out how they would do is the "requiring negative test results prior to boarding"
I live in West Central Florida. Next week, for the first time ever, we'll have a cost-free/open to anyone testing site. Test results will take 7-10 days! I've heard about this from different counties as well. (Side note: The shocking numbers of Florida... at least a week old!)
A week-old negative test isn't of much value to DCL, since you could easily have contracted Covid19 elsewhere in the meantime.

We are supposed to sail on November 6 leaving Puerto Rico and ending up in Miami. PR is requiring negative molecular Covid test results within 72 hours of landing or they will test you there. I live in Illinois and we are hearing that labs at up to 3 weeks behind in providing results. I would rather show up there with results in hand. But I don't see that happening.

Although, if Florida does not improve, I can't see Miami allowing ships to dock and let people off anyway, so I am reluctantly starting to think our cruise will be canceled.

 

[disneytwincesses]

Someone on my end of September 2021 got this survey. I know it is not 100% but there are 114 vaccines and treatments for covid in trials right now. Five are moving to final phase 3 this summer. Headlines show there is confidence there will be a vaccine by early 2021 and one even feels 1 billion doses administered by end of 2021. If there is a vaccine/treatment and many people got it; why would disney continue with these regulations? If I got the vaccine (and I will the soonest they let me) I would be really mad to pay the larger prices we have seen for end of Summer 2021 and all these restrictions.

 

[disneytwincesses]

Yes, this. Can we extrapolate from the surveys delivered when their target resumption of cruising is? So far, out of who's received a survey, who has the earliest sail date? Would be cool if people who have received a survey could let us know their sale date. Might give us a rough idea of when DCL thinks they can get back at it.

Someone on my Disney Dream September 20, 2021 got one!

 

[T & R]

AGREED! People will circumvent! And what will they do? Not let you back on the ship if you take a cab back from the beach? This is sounding WAAAY tooo stressful!

One of the few DCL excursions we do is the Stingray City thing on Grand Cayman. If we get back early enough from this one, on our own we usually shoot over to Royal Palms beach club on 7 mile beach. So this would be another example of once you're off the ship, even on a DCL excursion, people will splinter off to do their thing. We like Royal Palms because it's not a free beach but it's only a few bucks to get in. It's amazing how much a little $3 or $5 cover charge cuts down on the crowds, well worth it.

 

[T & R]

Someone on my Disney Dream September 20, 2021 got one!

Dang, that's way too far out. Hopefully their estimated resumption of cruising is not this. I do not think I could bear another year+ of no DCL.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

It would be like herding cats. Imagine having that job and trying to keep tabs on a gaggle of 30-120 people at a time. Some people cab it back on their own even when on a DCL shore excursion. Whoever that DCL guy/gal is, they're going to have their work cut out for them.

I would think the excursions will be smaller groups as well. Also I think a higher percentage than usual will opt to stay onboard. On our Med cruise, during the Nice/Monaco tour, our guide did a head count on the bus after each stop. On the last stop (Monte Carlo) we waited 30+ minutes for 2 people and finally had to leave them there. I wondered if they ever made it back onboard; were they injured and in a hospital? or did they just loose track of time in the casino? Anyway, I'd guess post-Covid guests on excursions will not be able to stray so much.

I think taking temps is a waste of time. Many positive with Covid have no symptoms so taking temps is not at all reassuring to me. I work in a very large hospital's radiology dept who has decided not to take temps because it is not an indication of being virus-free.

 

[Calantha]

Most of the things on the survey are dealbreakers for me - restricted kids club access, DCL excursions only and having to wear a mask. We’ll just wait, we’re not going anywhere (literally). We’ll see what happens for May...but I would cancel if all those restrictions are in place.

 

[disneytwincesses]

Most of the things on the survey are dealbreakers for me - restricted kids club access, DCL excursions only and having to wear a mask. We’ll just wait, we’re not going anywhere (literally).

Yes, I am not paying that much for a vacation that restricted. Way too much money.

 

[T & R]

We are supposed to sail on November 6 leaving Puerto Rico and ending up in Miami. PR is requiring negative molecular Covid test results within 72 hours of landing or they will test you there. I live in Illinois and we are hearing that labs at up to 3 weeks behind in providing results. I would rather show up there with results in hand. But I don't see that happening.

Although, if Florida does not improve, I can't see Miami allowing ships to dock and let people off anyway, so I am reluctantly starting to think our cruise will be canceled.

A lot can change in 4 months. Remember 4 months ago we sill had cruising. I do not think Florida will still be a hot spot in 4 months. It was only few months ago NY was the big one and now they are saying there are parts of NY that have achieved the 60%-70% heard immunity and obviously they are no longer the hot spot. To early to say about your Nov cruise.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Someone on my Disney Dream September 20, 2021 got one!

We didn't get one for Feb 2021. WBPC sailing.

 

[T & R]

I think taking temps is a waste of time.

I agree, all that is going to accomplish is just having your cruisers pop Tylenol like candy so that they don't get denied boarding for having a high temp.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

I agree, all that is going to accomplish is just having your cruisers pop Tylenol like candy so that they don't get denied boarding for having a high temp.

I hadn't thought of that. I was thinking that it would pacify many guests to see that DCL is "doing something proactive" even if in reality it's more a matter of going through the motions. This would only catch a small percentage of those with Covid. I personally think they would need a very accurate, rapid test similar to the way our doctors check for strep throat. Even that can't catch all the cases; people could be exposed on the plane ride on the way to FL and not yet know it. Travel causes spread. Period.

Also, how often would they be testing crew members? That is 1000+ staying onboard while passengers come and go. Crew members are also in various stages of their contracts. So some would fly home, while some return from their 8 week (or whatever it is) break. That is just as important as monitoring passengers.

I don't mind having crew members serve at the buffets to reduce the number of hands on serving utensils. In fact, I don't mind if they made that a permanent change. I've seen too many times people in front of me use the hand wipes at the door then while in the buffet line, give their nose a good, thorough bare-handed rubbing. Ewww...

 

[Pooh93]

It would be interesting to see who got these surveys. It may provide some evidence into how soon DCL can realistically begin sailing. My cruise is the first sailing out of San Diego in October. I did not get a survey.

And we are scheduled 11/6 out of Puerto Rico and did not get one either. We are gold.....not sure that makes any difference.

 

[Pooh93]

A lot can change in 4 months. Remember 4 months ago we sill had cruising. I do not think Florida will still be a hot spot in 4 months. It was only few months ago NY was the big one and now they are saying there are parts of NY that have achieved the 60%-70% heard immunity and obviously they are no longer the hot spot. To early to say about your Nov cruise.

I know....I have tried to be so optimistic, but then I see it sloooooowwwwwly slipping away. But you are correct....too soon to tell and testing wait times will hopefully improve also. I will get back on the ledge for now!! hahaha

 

[Pooh93]

I agree, all that is going to accomplish is just having your cruisers pop Tylenol like candy so that they don't get denied boarding for having a high temp.

That is what we have said!!

 

[Clojel]

Yes, this. Can we extrapolate from the surveys delivered when their target resumption of cruising is? So far, out of who's received a survey, who has the earliest sail date? Would be cool if people who have received a survey could let us know their sale date. Might give us a rough idea of when DCL thinks they can get back at it.

If you click the link to the survey in the OP and look at the screenshots someone posted to Twitter, it looks like someone got it for their Nov 14, 2020 cruise

 

[T & R]

If you click the link to the survey in the OP and look at the screenshots someone posted to Twitter, it looks like someone got it for their Nov 14, 2020 cruise

Awesome, that's a lot better than 2021. Also, Merry Time Christmas cruise.

 

[DCLDVC1]

Considering DCL excursions are already often double the price of independent options, I cannot even imagine this.

Never underestimate Disney's ability to jack up prices!

 

[JM_97]

"Access to port limited to only those who book shore excursion with Disney."

Um, hello, deal-breaker.

This was the most interesting to me. That's going to turn away a lot of people, but maybe that's what Disney wants so crowds can be less. Last year when looking at excursions for a possible cruise this year (that obviously ended up being impossible), for Falmouth we were just gonna shop and go to Margaritaville. No real plans and would still spend most of the day on the ship anyway because none of the ecoursions really caught our eye. I bet a lot of people do this in various ports too so I'm interested to see if that becomes a reality.

 

[JM_97]

Other thoughts:
- If a 7 night EC had to be changed, I'd much prefer that you take away a port and add CC for a second day. If you did a 7 night Bahamas cruise from PC with the itinerary they have, that's a lot of money for a cruise that's three ports so close to each other in seven days. Could they add Key West? I love sea days but also wanna feel like I'm going somewhere too. Could they do PC --> Key West --> At Sea --> Nassau --> CC --> At Sea --> CC --> PC? Doing that or making it 5 night double dip would appeal to me the most.

- No self service buffet is fine with me. You were always kind of taking a risk with buffets anyway and the table service restaurants are usually better too. If they permanently went to where a CM serves you the food behind the glass then I'd be fine with this.

- Kids Club won't have an impact on us but I can understand that would turn people away. There's plenty of families I'm sure who go on DCL for that alone.

- How would virtual queues work for slides and pools? Esp. for like the aqua duck on the new ships. How do you prove it's your turn? I guess have someone stationed at the bottom stairs before you go up? As someone said, one good thing about cruises is that you don't have to plan hour by hour. I just don't know how they would do this, or more importantly have it enforced.